Home » 2025 (Page 7)
Yearly Archives: 2025
The Beatryce Prophecy–finding home
The Beatryce Prophecy
By Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
I read The Beatryce Prophecy and then listened to the audio version; I found both delightful. A hard-headed, fearsome goat Answelica and Beatryce, a girl whose family is targeted for destruction by a king, share the protagonist role in this medieval fantasy. Strong supporting roles are found in Jack Dory, a young man who was orphaned as a child, and Brother Edik, an outcast of sorts within his own monastery. They befriend Beatryce and help her find her “voice.”
In the society of this book, women and peasants are not legally allowed to learn to read and write. Since Beatryce can do both, while she is recovering from illness and trauma in the refuge of the monastery, she is urged to disguise herself as a mute member of the order with a shaved head.
The plot of The Beatryce Prophecy centers on a prophecy received by Brother Edik and recorded by him in the Chronicles of Sorrowing. In addition to sharing the prophecies that come to him as he works, Edik’s main job is to illuminate the first letter of each page of that book. For him it is an opportunity for his creative, often fanciful, side to be displayed. Throughout this novel, name is very important as part of a person’s identity. Because the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing have the task of recording events of war and violence, there is a dark side to the book, but there are sprinklings of humor, especially through the goat, and there is a lot of positivity in many of the other characters.
The importance of various kinds of love is a strong theme throughout the book. Trust is also discussed and prized by the characters. The evils of war and of greedy rulers are apparent as is the determination of certain classes to control others by withholding literacy. These are themes that middle schoolers can understand and adults can also appreciate. Although no one can restore dead family members to Bernyce and Jack, the ending of the book shows how society can change and individuals can make good choices.
The book is well written and quite lyrical, especially when read aloud. It has beautiful descriptions and philosophical thoughts. As a storyteller, Bernyce contrives fanciful tales within her own story. The black and white illustrations are perfect to accompany this book which also starts each chapter with an illuminated letter.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Children’s Fantasy, Adventure
Notes: 1. Recommended by the publisher for ages 8 and up. Recommended by Amazon customers for ages 9-12. Amazon lists it as appropriate for grades 3-7.
2. Audio version: Finty Williams (Narrator), Listening Library (Publisher)
Publication: September 28, 2021—Candlewick Press
Memorable Lines:
They had walked through a door hewn into the side of a massive tree, and they were inside it now. For the rest of his life, Jack Dory would remember the wonder of it: what it was like to open a door and enter another world, a world hidden inside of the world he already knew—the impossibility of it, the rightness of it.
“Kings,” said Cannoc, “do not know what they want. Except for one thing, of course: they want to keep being kings.”
We shall all, in the end, be led to where we belong. We shall all, in the end, find our way home.
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels–strange mystery
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
By Janice Hallett
This work of fiction is about a true crime writer investigating a closed case that she thinks worth exploring as does her publisher. It turns out to be a complicated story that did not appeal to me for several reasons.
First, it appears to be a twenty-first version of epistolary text. Instead of traditional letters, it bounces back and forth between, text messages, transcribed interviews and phone calls, and pages torn from fictional books purportedly written about the “Alperton Angels.” This is a cult that weirdly seems to want to protect a certain baby to later sacrifice it because it is the antichrist. As I am not fond of epistolary writing, I found that aspect particularly unappealing. At 25% I almost didn’t finish, but I plugged on thinking it would get better. It didn’t.
Second, there was not a single character that I liked in The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. They were all lying and deceptive people. Full of mixed motivations, none of them were people I wanted to know, root for, or care about in any way. Perhaps for the right reader this would be appealing, but it just didn’t work for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 3/5
Category: Thriller, Crime, Fiction
Notes: Epistolary
Publication: January 23, 2024—Simon & Schuster
Memorable Lines:
“Take away talk of angels and demons and you’re left with a very depressing but nonetheless run-of-the-mill story.”
“Electrical and magnetic energy are invisible but we know they exist, right? They can be stored and released at will. Could the force of evil, of negativity, generate an energy that is similarly controlled?”
“He was a lifelong fraudster but needed someone young, pliable, and with no police record to take all the risks.”
Congratulations, Class of 2025!
Regardless of what school you attended or what level you attained, I want to congratulate you on your achievement and encourage you to do your best in all your endeavors. Be truthful, honest, and hardworking. Above all, be KIND to everyone you meet because “everyone is going through something”!
The Divine Proverb of Streusel–family roots
The Divine Proverb of Streusel
By Sara Brunsvold
My first reaction to the title of this book is “What an odd title for a book! What will it be about?” Amazingly, it is about negotiating the river rapids of dysfunctional families and relationships. It is about trusting God to bring something good out of bad things that happen. It is about love and forgiveness.
When the school year ends, high school literature teacher Nicki Werner should be riding on a high. Instead she finds herself emotionally overcome by actions of her father who leaves his family with no regard for anyone else. When Nicki finds herself driving aimlessly to escape her pain, she ends up across the state at her father’s family homestead, now occupied by his brother Wes. This uncle takes Nikki in giving her space and time to process the chaos in her life.
As she seeks distance from her father, she finds herself immersed in learning about her heritage from the people of the town and from a handwritten notebook she finds that contains proverbs and other thoughts, each section followed by a recipe reflecting her German ancestry. For example, the recipe for Scalloped Cabbage (Kohl jus Eddner) begins with “You can either look at what you don’t have and yearn, or you can look at what you do have and give thanks.” Working through the recipes, attending church, talking to her uncle, and getting acquainted with her grandmother’s sister through emails all shed light on her father’s background and gives her some understanding of why he is the way he is.
There are other subplots along the way. Nikki’s sister and mom are hurting too. Nikki’s inability to open up to her boyfriend and her sudden departure cause a rift almost as big as the Grand Canyon. Uncle Wes may be a retired soldier, but fear seems to overtake him when he gets near a certain woman from his younger years. They are clearly attracted to each other, but this is one conflict Wes wants to avoid.
The Divine Proverb of Streusel is a good book to read if you enjoy a Christian book that deals with the problems people have and throws in some romance. Along the way, you get some good advice, read some Scriptures, fantasize about some great cooking, and perhaps find that you are a better person for having internalized some of the proverbs.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Christian, Women’s Fiction
Publication: January 16, 2024—Revell
Memorable Lines:
“There’s a big fat zero percent chance that her showing up at your door was a coincidence. What’s that Bible verse about God comforting us in our pain so that we can comfort others? You have been specially selected for an important role in this season of her life precisely because you understand.”
This world gives enough reasons to fret. Be not one of them. Be the help. Smile to coax a smile from others. Laugh to stoke hope. Extend a gift of butter baked in sugar to invite friendship to grab hold. As the sun melts away the storm, so shall your help bring life into the vale of grief, and warmth into the shivering sounds of the weak.
No joy could be brighter than that of forgiveness received—and given.
Caroline: Little House, Revisited
Caroline: Little House, Revisited
by Sarah Miller
The book Little House on the Prairie is part of a series of historical fiction books about the Ingalls family. Treasured by several generations of readers, it was written for children, but has also been enjoyed by adults and made into a television series. Caroline: Little House, Revisited tells the same story but from the perspective of the mother, Caroline. The original Little House on the Prairie book is written by one of the children in the story, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Both books are historical fiction with Little House on the Prairie based on Laura’s memory while Caroline is a combination of Wilder’s reminiscences, historical research, and Miller’s creativity.
Because of the source material and the intended audiences, the books are similar in most of the basic events, but quite different in a few aspects. Intending to read the two books side by side, I soon found Caroline deviating. In the book for adults, Caroline makes the long journey in a covered wagon from Wisconsin to Kansas pregnant with her third child. In Little House on the Prairie, Baby Carrie is already a part of the family and makes the trip with Pa, Ma, Mary, and Laura. Miller attributes this difference, which readers may find rather jarring at first, to Wilder’s condensing events because she had not planned on writing a series. She later continued writing about the Ingalls family because of her fans’ requests. As you might imagine, Caroline has a lot of focus on what it would be like to travel pregnant and give birth in very humble circumstances far from family support. Miller is a good writer who leads the reader to empathize with the protagonist even though her circumstances are outside the cultural norms of the twenty-first century.
Some of the disparities occur because Laura Ingalls Wilder was three years old when the family began their journeys. What impacts a child and stays with them can be quite different than what is important to an adult. Things that happen to the animals in the story are important to Laura. For example, in Wilder’s book, when they are trying to negotiate crossing a rushing creek with the wagon and ponies, their dog Jack disappears. This loss is traumatic for Laura. She recounts frequently how she tries to be as good as her older sister Mary and that sitting still is hard for her.
On several occasions, Indians came uninvited into their home and took things. This tale was a part of both books but only in Little House on the Prairie was there a description of the horrible odor in the house. It seems that the Indians were wearing skunk pelts! That would definitely make an impression on a young child.
Caroline is historical fiction that can make you feel like you are there—experiencing the jolting wagon, the terror of being a woman alone for days at a time in Indian Territory, the pain of childbirth, and the agony of malaria. The story is not all disheartening, however. Christmas is memorable, and the girls’ happiness over what we would consider a meager celebration will pull at heartstrings. The main characters are all likable. Pa is hardworking and kind. With his fiddle and the twinkle in his eye, he manages to make light of hardships. Ma (Caroline) is a strong woman who loves her husband and ever tries to smooth things over. She attempts to absorb the bad times and disappointments to protect her husband’s feelings and model strength for her daughters.
Caroline: Little House Revisited is a good work of historical fiction whether the reader is familiar with Little House on the Prairie or not. I also recommend Laura Ingalls Wilder’s original book for children. I enjoyed a reread as an adult, especially the version I chose with illustrations by Garth Williams.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Historical Fiction
Notes: The story of Little House on the Prairie told from the mother’s perspective.
Publication: 2017—Harper Collins
Memorable Lines:
“You’ll need two hands to fire it—hold your arms out straight ahead and lace your fingers around the stock, the way you do to pray.” Caroline’s tongue rose to object to the juxtaposition, then halted. If ever she had cause to fire this gun, there would indeed be a prayer behind it.
She sat down close beside Charles, too full for words, and looked out into the wide open night. It was to hard to imagine that darkness stretching all the way back across the long way they had come. And the fiddle sang, low and rich now, its melodies swaying in an easy back-and-forth rhythm until the home they had left and the home they would make seemed within reach of each other.
They would never, never forget this Christmas. None of them. Already Caroline could feel the morning embedding itself in her own memory. Her mind was a bottling it whole, so that it would remain fresh and glistening as a jar of preserves.
Sunshine After the Rain–family heartbreaks
Sunshine After the Rain
by Jessica Redland
Can there be “sunshine after the rain” or will tragedy and bad choices just keep pushing Mel down with no hope of escape from her past? Mel is a conservation architect. She specializes in the “preservation of historic buildings.” She worked alongside her husband Flynn who handled the construction end of the business until the untimely death of their son. Mel needed answers; she wanted to blame someone. In a totally irrational response to the death, she left her husband and her home. She thought she needed time and space so she cut almost all ties with her family, not considering that all of them were grieving too.
Mel grew up in a village near Derwent Water in the Lake District National Park. Seven years after her split from Flynn, a trip back to Willowdale to celebrate her mom’s eightieth birthday cracks open the tough shell Mel has built around herself. She discovers that the owners of the historic Willowdale Hall, a local landmark, are embarking on a reconstruction. This would be a dream job for Mel. There are a lot of characters who have ties to Willowdale Hall. Many of those characters have been previously introduced in the Escape to the Lakes series, and the author uses their kindness to bring together a supportive structure for Mel as she heals. There is another large piece of sadness in the story that adds to Mel’s struggles.
There is so much grief, despair, and despondency in Sunshine After the Rain that at times it is difficult to read. At the same time, it is uplifting to see familiar characters who have gone through tough times themselves reaching out to help Mel. In addition to the obvious themes of grief and loss, there are also themes of enduring and steadfast love and hope for a better tomorrow. There is a lot of symbolism as Willowdale Hall is being transformed from a place with a lot of past sorrow into a place of restoration. There is also a motif of broken vessels being repaired to a new state of beauty.
I particularly identified with the characters’ love of the library at Willowdale Hall along with another small reading room introduced later in the book. I would love to spend time in either room surrounded by books!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: #4 in the Escape to the Lakes series. By the time you get to this fourth book, there are a lot of characters and relationships. I recommend you start at the beginning of the series and keep going. You will be happy you read them in sequence. Redland is aware of how many characters are involved at this point, and she includes a “Cast of Recurring Characters” as a reference for readers.
Publication: May 15, 2025—Boldwood Books
Memorable Lines:
The biting cold wind whipped my hair across my face and took my breath away. The lake was choppy but the sound of the water slapping against the beach was both mesmerizing and comforting. Closing my eyes, I breathed in several deep lungfuls of fresh air, trying to quieten the battle inside my head.
Georgia laughed at me when I told her I could hear old buildings breathe, which was rich from somebody who talked to books. I loved the phrase if walls could talk. I wish! The things these walls must have seen—the good times and bad, the joy and the pain.
Even the things that seem the most broken can be fixed with enough time, love and will.
The Best is Yet to Come–complicated relationships
The Best is Yet to Come
by Jessica Redland
When Jessica Redland ended the second book in the Escape to the Lakes series with a huge hook, I decided that I needed to read the third book immediately. In the Prologue, Redland satisfactorily reveals the identity of the mysterious “C” while reviewing some of the characters in the first two books. Then, much to my disappointment, the author appears to abandon the whole plot line with the first chapter and introduces a new protagonist, Emma, who is leaving her long term career as a teacher to go with her boyfriend Grayson to help him on his newly acquired tenancy on a Beatrix Potter plot. Redland developed these new characters, and I came along suspecting that Redland is too good an author not to circle back around.
The plot and character relationships only get more complicated as the threads do, in fact, cross. Redland takes the reader on the ups and downs of Emma’s life, gradually disclosing her secrets and nudging her along the path of mending her twice-broken heart. Behind all these relationship issues are The Magnificent Seven, a band of rescue alpacas that become Emma’s focus, the center of her reimagined life. The setting and characters, especially the alpacas, come to life with Redland’s skillful pen. I allowed myself to be carried along and feel rejection, longing, and healing along with Emma. There are people from her past that she learns to leave in the past because “the best is yet to come.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: #3 in the Escape to the Lakes series. By the time you get to this third book, there are a lot of characters and relationships. I recommend you start at the beginning of the series and keep going. You will be happy you read them in sequence.
Publication: September 23, 2024—Boldwood Books
Memorable Lines:
I couldn’t seem to stop my emotions bouncing around all over the place. One minute I’d be so overwhelmed with hurt that I could barely breathe, the next I’d be shaking with anger and feeling like such an idiot.
I felt really comfortable with him, as though I could tell him anything and he’d understand, but I just couldn’t do it. I’d spent too many years telling an edited version of my story and it was too difficult to give the full truth.
“…Aoife and I were able to show him a different path. Up to him whether he took it or not but it’s easier to do that when someone gives you a little push and tells you the only stop sign is the one you put there.”
A Breath of Fresh Air–very tangled family relationships
A Breath of Fresh Air
by Jessica Redland
I have really enjoyed Redland’s books; they are clean romances. I had many interruptions as I was reading this one, but I was always eager to pick up where I left off. My one warning is that A Breath of Fresh Air ends with a very large and surprising hook—big enough that I will be revising my reading queue to move on quickly to the third book in the series. At the end, I turned the page to learn who the mysterious “C.” is only to discover that this person’s identity is still hidden. Several of the main characters have been working for a number of months to bring this person’s name to light, but as the book closes it is still a mystery to the reader.
A Breath of Fresh Air is the story of Rosie who manages the stable on a large, but run down, property. She cares for the horses and gives riding lessons to groups and individuals with the help of her mother. Mam is emotionally crippled by a very serious accident and can not make herself leave the estate grounds. Mam has raised Rosie on her own and has never disclosed to Rosie, or anyone, who Rosie’s father is.
There is a lot of heavy baggage that the characters have to carry. Rosie was badly bullied in school, but the most painful break was with her long time friend, Ollie. What in his background would cause him to join with the “Populars” in making fun of her?
There are a lot of themes that the author explores including dysfunctional families composed of tortured people. Bullying is a huge issue as well as secrets that hurt but are supposed to protect. Paternity issues and the treatment of unwed mothers play a major role in this book. The novel includes second chance romances and recovery from PTSD. In the midst of all of these negatives are folks of good character, a supportive friend, and people who dream and work to make their dreams a reality.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Notes: #2 in the Escape to the Lakes series, but could be read as a stand alone.
Publication: January 10, 2024—Boldwood Books
Memorable Lines:
Confidence could be such a funny thing. If I was at the stables, I could happily chat to anyone—any age or walk of life, but being surrounded by horses was my comfort zone, my domain, my safe space. This couldn’t be further from that.
“Your capacity to forgive is astonishing, you love your friends and family with a ferocity that’s so touching, and you inspire me every day to want to be a better person.”
Things happened—unexpected, horrendous, life-changing things—but what was important was how we picked ourselves up after them, made our peace and moved on.
Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus
Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus
By Wesley Hill
Continuing the Fullness of Time series, my book club very appropriately read Easter this month. It is a short book. Not a devotional, not an academic tome, Easter begins with a very engaging introduction describing a Great Vigil of Easter service Wesley Hill attended at a beautiful cathedral in England twenty years ago. He then moves into the story of the first Easter when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He documents what he describes with Scripture references from all four Gospels weaving in important information about the context of the accounts.
Next, Hill discusses the liturgy used in Anglican and other churches relating baptism symbolically to the resurrection and the new life believers receive when they decide to follow Jesus. Easter is a movable feast, not occurring on the same calendar day each year. It is a complicated calculation, but Hill does share how to figure it out and the factors on which it is dependent. (Or, like me, you can just look the date up on the Internet or a calendar.)
Hill does not just leave us with a risen Lord. He moves on to how the church liturgy highlights the book of Acts which focuses on Jesus’ disciples. Their world has been turned upside down, but Jesus does not abandon them. When He ascends to be with God the Father in heaven, He leaves instructions for His followers to share the Good News and promises to send a helper, the Holy Spirit, to empower them.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Religion, Spirituality, Theology
Notes: The Fullness of Time series is edited by Esau McCaulley. It is composed of six stand alone books that can be read in any order: “Each volume in the Fullness of Time series invites readers to engage with the riches of the church year, exploring the traditions, prayers, Scriptures, and rituals of the seasons of the church calendar.” A seventh book is currently in process to complete the series.
Publication: 2025—InterVarsity Press
Memorable Lines:
Mercy for the undeserving is the overriding, hope-awakening theme of Easter.
Prayer, then, is our asking for what we need from the one who has triumphed over the world’s processes of decay and disorientation. We aren’t trapped by the limited options of life as we’ve always known it. Jesus is alive, and he exhales healing vitality, and wholeness into our world. His Spirit is with us.
The Lord is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Meadow Falls–trusting again
Meadow Falls
by Carolyn Brown
Angela Marie Duncan inherits the largest peanut farm in Texas from her father. That might be overwhelming to some, but Angela Marie has been working the peanut farm since she was a child so she knows everything there is to know from planting to harvesting to accounting.
Meadow Falls recounts Angela Marie’s blossoming after her indifferent father passes away. She depends on Mandy her 95 year old nanny and Mandy’s granddaughter Celeste for support as makes choices to shed her old life and rebuild. Celeste has been Angela Marie’s close friend from childhood. Celeste is reeling from a divorce, and Angela Marie has learned that men can be attracted to her for her money. Both have understandable trusts issues with men. Devon enters her life at just the time she needs someone to handle the many mechanical issues that arise on a peanut farm. He brings along his cousin Jesse who is an excellent carpenter who is hired to remake much of the large home. Tongues are wagging in the little town with a big gossip mill. Angela Marie and Devon encourage the rumors to keep unwanted attention away from her. This fake boyfriend trope works, but boundaries can blur.
I enjoyed the characters, plot twists, and romance in this clean novel. Mandy and her friend Polly add a welcome multigenerational vibe. If I had one criticism of this book, it would be that the characters “giggle” and “chuckle” too much. Laughing is great, but let’s pull out the thesaurus and vary the words a little! Otherwise, it was a good read, and includes a mystery of sorts—possible relationships that are suspected based on timeline and photos. It takes DNA samples to suss out the truth.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Publication: January 9, 2024—Montlake
Memorable Lines:
My thoughts kept running around and around in my head like young squirrels chasing each other around and around the tree.
“You don’t forgive to make the other person feel better. You do it to get that hard spot out of your heart. Hate and love cannot abide together. Hate is darkness, and love is light. Love produces peace. Hate eats away at you until there’s nothing left but a dark hole inside your chest that nothing will cure.”
I sat down on the top step and savored every flirty moment and every nuance. I held onto the vibes between us like I would a Fourth of July sparkler and loved every minute.
education pathways 